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  Decurling tag webs in printers/stackersUSPTO Application #: 20070248396Title: Decurling tag webs in printers/stackers Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments of a decurler system for tag webs used for example in printers and stackers to automatically remove curl from tag webs to promote further tag handling and better tag appearance. The decurler system may determine the current diameter of a stock roll and gradually adjust parameters such as resistance and back bend so as to compensate for increased set in tag webs as the diameter of the stock roll decreases. In an embodiment, the decurler system may include different sets of parameters for different stock roll diameters depending on the material used for the tag webs. (end of abstract)
Agent: Paxar Americas, Inc. Attn: Joseph J. Grass - Miamisburg, OH, US Inventors: Raymond A. Blanchard, Donald J. Ward USPTO Applicaton #: 20070248396 - Class: 400619000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Typewriting Machines, Sheet Or Web (e.g., Record-medium Feeding Mechanism), For Feeding Web Record-medium, Including Web Guiding Or Aligning (e.g., Laterally, Relative To Print-line, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070248396. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/779,990 filed Feb. 17, 2004, Publication No. US 2005/0189796A1 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [0002] Another U.S. patent application entitled "UNWIND FOR PRINTER", filed on even date herewith, wherein the named inventor is and Donald J. Ward, Ser. No. ______, filed ______, has a disclosure the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, and that application discloses features of the printer and its unwind not disclosed either in application Ser. No. 10/779,990 or in the present application BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] This invention relates to methods and apparatus for decurling tags and webs in devices such as printers with stacker. [0005] 2. Description of Related Art [0006] Printable webs can be comprised of various materials such as uncoated tag stock, coated tag stock, fabric, pressure sensitive label stock, and the like. These materials are typically wound into a supply roll. Such web materials differ as to the amount of memory or set they have from having been wound into a supply roll. For example, it has been found that the memory of certain uncoated tag stock is substantial and is greater than the memory of coated tag stock. On the other hand, the memory of a fabric web is very small. In addition, the amount of curl in a web increases as the distance between the outside of the supply roll and the center of the supply roll decrease. Thus, for materials in which the memory is substantial, the web does not decurl sufficiently as the web passes through a utilization device such as a printer to result in flat tags. Flat tags can be easier to stack in a stacker than curled tags, flat tags can be easier to handle and apply to garments than curled tags, and flat tags have a better appearance. Curled tags present an unsightly appearance. As used herein, the expression "tag web" includes "label webs" and "tags" include "labels". BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The following represents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of various aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented thereafter. [0008] Aspects of the invention relate to decurling methods and apparatus to decurling tag webs that require decurling so that resultant tags are essentially flat to assist in further handling such as printing and/or stacking and to provide tags of enhanced appearance. Methods for decurling tag webs may include increasing tension on tag webs as they are fed from a supply roll. Methods for decurling may alternatively or additionally include modifying the path of the tag web so as to increase the back bend of the tag webs as they are fed from a supply roll. Systems for decurling may include a motor-driven unwind that can resist the feed of tag webs. Systems for decurling may alternatively or additionally include a movable guide that can be adjusted so as to increase the back bend of the tag webs as the they are fed from a supply roll. [0009] Other features and benefits will be evident from the following detailed description and reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying Figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: [0011] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a printer for printing on tag webs; [0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of portions of the printer and a stacker for stacking tags; [0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of a decurler for a tag web also shown in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 4 is an assembled fragmentary perspective view of the portion of the decurler shown in FIG. 3; [0015] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the printer with an alternative embodiment of a decurler; [0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the alternative embodiment of a decurler shown in FIG. 5; [0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the stacker shown in FIG. 2 with tags that have not been decurled; [0018] FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of the control for the decurler system; [0019] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the decurler system's software control; and [0020] FIGS. 10 and 11 are charts showing amperages applied to the unwind motor for webs of different materials. Continue reading... Full patent description for Decurling tag webs in printers/stackers Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Decurling tag webs in printers/stackers patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Decurling tag webs in printers/stackers or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Image generating apparatus Next Patent Application: Stick-shaped material propelling container Industry Class: Typewriting machines ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Decurling tag webs in printers/stackers patent info. 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